how to become more advanced?? - Printable Version

[size=8pt][font=verdana] if you're on here, then it's probably safe to assume that you're interested in getting better at writing. well, luckily, there's a few simple things that you can do to become more advanced fairly quickly.

character building

all stories begin with the characters, if you don't know who the plot is developing around, or rather, who is being developed by the plot, then you can't do much plotting. without complex, dynamic characters, the plot will often fall flat or be too predictable, so this is the most important stage in your writing. that being said, you don't have to have everything figured out before you start writing. it's often easier to let the words flow and find your character in a natural, unforced way.

if you need inspiration, think of the setting first. what is the time period? this affects how they talk, how they dress. what is the weather like? this might affect their mood. then think back to their childhood. how did their family treat them? who were their friends? what was their favorite food? move? did they have a family dog? learning how your character responds in situations and why they respond is the basis of who they are. maybe they cry every time they see a flower because it reminds them of their grandmother's grave. maybe they wear oversized sweaters that smell of cigars because they remind them of their father who used to sit in his study and smoke when their parents were getting a divorce. everything ties in together and minor details are just as important as major ones.

by following this concept of going back to their roots, you can think of why they react to certain kinds of people the way they do. perhaps your character was harassed and now avoids certain people. maybe someone reminds your character of their best friend. now is a good time to think about yourself and other people that you've met. how did you first react to one of your friends? what do you act like when you're angry? do you slam doors or crawl away to your room and cry? do you suppress your emotions and have chaotic eruptions later on? how does your character act under pressure? are they good at taking tests? think of anything and everything that you do, and see if that inspires any aspect of your character. it's like people always say, it's best to write what you know. except, that's not necessarily referring to the genre, rather, i believe it's referring to understanding complex personalities. like you, like me, your character has feelings, they feel pain, or at least, they most likely do.

i find that it's also usually best to focus on characters with a certain gender identity and/or sexuality, probably one that parallels your own, simply because you'll be able to relate more to your character and have high muse for them. of course, it's always good to be diverse.

everything here is simply a suggestion, not a rule.

grammar and spelling

if you have spellcheck, make sure that it's on. i also highly advise downloading apps such as grammarly, which is a free tool used to correct any mistakes. simply making sure that you use commas correctly and spell words correctly (for the most part), may definitely increase the professionalism of each post that you write. there are also websites like noredink which teach you grammar in an interactive and in-depth way. by doing this, you also better your writing for the classroom. you should learn when to use" too, two, and to, there, their, and they're, and so on. also, learn your tenses. know the difference between an indicative and an imperative. understand what active tense and passive tense mean. if you take latin, this is especially important for you to understand.

word choice and literary devices

one of the easiest ways that i elaborate my writing with the use of asyndetons, polysndetons, imagery, similies, metaphors, paradoxes, juxtaposition, allusion, anything that i can use in the moment. for example, it's mch more interesting to read "the ebony road slithered into the shadows as if it were a snake waiting for its prey" than it is to read "the road was black and ominous". it's just as important to know when to use beautiful, lengthily structured sentences as it is to know when to choppy sentences. choppier sentences are usually good to use when you're conveying thoughts or in high-action moments, when the rhythm is quicker. when the plot is slower or you're describing the setting, opt for more in-depth sentences. however, you should alternate between both in each paragraph as needed. verbiage isn't always necessary. another good thing to do is expand your lexicon. you can do this by taking sat/act prep quizlets, looking at vocabulary lists, or reading the new york times or the columbia spectator. avoid basic words such as sad, happy, big, and small. instead, use morose, jocose, mammoth-like, and minuscule.

font

it sounds silly, i know, but the font of your writing isn't something to put on the backburner. afterall, you're most-likely going to re-read your writing at some point and anyone who you're interacting with. make sure that the font is preferably at least seven pts., well spaced, and in serif font (times new roman, georgia, and so on). these fonts are often used by newspapers because they're easy to read, especially for people with dyslexia. make sure that the color is comfortable for you to look at, preferably in a neutral color such as black or grey. however, you may want to take white off the table, as it can be harsh on tired eyes. in addition, font provides yet another facet for which you can express your character. grey font might mean that they are a softer, calmer person with a similar aesthetic, especially with more rounded fonts. stick straight letters in black might subconsciously convey the idea that they are organized and in control. this is only a theory, and you shouldn't think too hard about what your font looks like in the end.

writer's block

writer's block begins when you tell yourself that your mind is tangled or clogged. let yourself relax, sit in the sun, drink a cup of tea, wear your favorite fuzzy socks, pet your cat, whatever makes you relaxed. play a happier song on your phone, even if it's not something you'd normally listen to. if you want, you can read some of the books of your favorite authors for inspiration or explore new titles. i personally recommend analyzing the text of classic novels because they are often chosen for closer reading by teachers. also, older literature generally has a more defined structure because a lot of it was written in hexameter or pentameter, and may use more literary devices as well.

think back to your characters. who are they? where are they at right now? how are they going to get through whatever obstacle they currently face? don't force your ideas, but let the questions linger in your mind for a few days, explore the area you live in, talk to people (real stories often inspire fiction), and then eventually answers will come. it's okay to take a break, but don't loose your momentum.

non-fiction writing - text analysis

non-fiction writing and analysis often follow a certain structure either called a tdec or claims, evidence, and details. first, you start with a thesis statement which is your claim. in the thesis statement you should include the author's name and the book title if doing an analysis. then, you provide one detail from the text that includes a literary device, say if it's in the beginning/middle/end, and describe what happens leading up to that moment. next, you provide commentary for why it's important that the author used a certain device and how that and the actual content of the evidence you provided support your claim. at this point, it's also important to describe what kind of emotions the author hopes to convey to the audience and how the literary device accomplishes that.

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thank you so much! if you have any specific questions, you can pm me or ask me for my number and i'll help where i can. if you need fcs, name ideas, absolutely anything, i'm here. even if it's about comma placement.